The main idea of Voltaire and his philosophical and political views

The ideas of the French Enlightenment consisted in the moral revival of society, which was to rise for the uprising. Prominent enlighteners were Charles Montesquieu and Voltaire, and later Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot.

The ideas of Montesquieu and Voltaire were not the same with regard to issues of the state and society. However, they became fundamental in the development of a new society. The main idea of Voltaire was different from the views of other representatives of the era.

short biography

Born Voltaire (at birth gave the name of Francois-Marie Arue) in Paris (Kingdom of France) on November 21, 1694. His mother was the daughter of a criminal court secretary. My father worked as a notary and a tax collector. Voltaire did not accept the profession of his father, as his own, so in 1744 he even declared himself the illegitimate son of a beggar musketeer composing poetry.

In his youth he studied at a Jesuit college, after which he began to study law. Over time, the young man tired of obeying his father, he began to seek his way in life. Since 1718, he signed the pseudonym of Voltaire, which is an anagram of his full name with a postscript "junior".

During the time of satire, the poet sat several times in the Bastille. The first time it happened in 1717. The reason for the arrest was an insulting satire addressed to the Duke of Orleans, who was the regent of France.

During his lifetime, Voltaire faced more than once the threat of arrest. He was forced to leave France. The philosopher throughout his journey lived in England, Prussia, Switzerland. By 1776, he became the richest man in France, which gave him the opportunity to create his "specific principality" in the estate of Ferney.

From his estate Voltaire, whose political views were monarchical, corresponded with many famous people of that time. These included the heads of the powers:

• King of Prussia - Friedrich 2.
• The Empress of Russia - Catherine 2.
• The King of Poland - Stanislav August Poniatowski.
• King of Sweden - Gustav 3.
• King of Denmark - Christian 7.

At the age of 83 years, the famous enlightener returned to Paris, where he soon died. His remains are kept in the national tomb for outstanding people - the Pantheon.

Philosophical ideas of Voltaire

Briefly on the philosophy of Voltaire can be said so - he was a supporter of empiricism. In some of his works he advocated the teachings of the English philosopher Locke. At the same time he was an opponent of the French materialistic school.

His most important philosophical articles he published in the "Pocket Philosophical Dictionary." In this work he opposed idealism and religion. Voltaire relied on the scientific knowledge of his time.

The basic views of Voltaire regarding man are reduced to the fact that everyone should have natural rights:

• Freedom;
• security;
• equality;
• own.

However, natural rights must be protected by positive laws, since "people are evil." At the same time many philosophers of this kind recognized the philosopher as unfair.

Socio-philosophical views

The main idea of Voltaire in the social view boils down to the need for inequality in society. In his opinion, it should consist of rich, educated and those who are obliged to work for them. He believed that the working people had no reason for education, since their reasoning could ruin everything.

Voltaire was an adherent of enlightened absolutism. Until the end of his life he was a monarchist. In his opinion, the monarch must rely on the enlightened part of society in the person of intellectuals and philosophers.

Basic ideas about faith

The main idea of Voltaire regarding the existence of God is that he is an engineer who invented, created and continues to harmonize the system of the universe.

Voltaire opposed atheism. He believed that: "If there was no God, he should have been invented." This intelligent higher being appears as eternal and necessary. However, the philosopher adhered to the position that it is necessary to prove the existence of God not through faith, but through reasonable research.

This is because faith can not reveal its being. It is built on superstitions and a lot of contradictory things. The only truth in this aspect is the worship of God and his commandments. According to Voltaire, atheism, like theism, contradicts deism by its absurdity.

Political and legal views of Voltaire

The great philosopher did not leave behind him special works on politics and jurisprudence. However, the political and legal views of Voltaire deserve special attention. All his thoughts about the state, law, law are placed in various works.

In prose there is a critical attitude of the author, who ridicules and denies the ideological foundations of feudal society. Works are permeated with the spirit of freedom, tolerance and humanism.

Basic views

The philosopher considered the cause of all social evils to be the dominance of ignorance, superstition and prejudice that suppressed reason. All this came from the Church and Catholicism. That is why in his work the enlightener fights against clergymen, religious persecutions and fanaticism.

The last, implanted by the Church, kills the freedom of conscience and speech. And this is the life-giving principle of any freedom. In this Voltaire did not reject the existence of God and the need for religion.

Voltaire's main idea was not democratic. The enlightenment was not designed for ordinary workers. The philosopher did not esteem people of physical labor, so in his idea he did not take them into account. Moreover, most of all he was afraid of democracy. In this Voltaire and his political ideas differed from other representatives of that time.

He understood the equality of people only in the politico-legal sense. All people must be citizens who are equal in rights and protected by laws. At the same time, he believed that the position of a person in society should depend on whether he possessed property. For example, the right to vote in relation to the public good should only be with the owners, and not with all ordinary people.

In the case, Voltaire argued for a fair trial, in which lawyers will participate. He did not recognize torture and wished for their abolition.

In terms of state structure, the philosopher was a supporter of an absolute monarchy with an enlightened ruler at the head. However, he also liked the practice of government in England. The constitutional monarchy and the presence of two parties that are able to follow one after another were revered by Voltaire.

As an ideologist, the thinker did not create his own political theory. However, the legal views of Voltaire paved the way for the further development of political and legal doctrines. Voltaire's ideas more or less penetrated the views of all French enlighteners.

Human rights activities

It has already been mentioned that Voltaire did not respect the work of his father. However, he nevertheless linked his life with a legal matter in the years 1760-1770. So, in 1762 he held a company to abolish the death sentence that was passed on to Protestant Jean Kalas. He was accused of killing his own son. Voltaire was able to obtain an acquittal.

Other victims of political and religious persecution, defended by the enlightener, were Sirven, Comte de Lally, Chevalier de La Barre. Politico-legal views of Voltaire consisted in the struggle against the Church and its prejudices.

Voltaire-Writer

In literature Voltaire sympathized with the aristocratic 18th century. He is known for his philosophical stories, dramatic works, poetry. The peculiarity of his works is in the simplicity and accessibility of language, aphoristic, satire.

Fiction was for the author not an end in itself, but a means. With the help of it, he propagandized his ideas, protesting against churchmen and autocracy, preaching tolerance and civil freedom.

Drama

Throughout his life, the author wrote 28 classic tragedies, among which most often singled out Oedipus, Zaire, Caesar, Chinese Orphan and others. He struggled for a long time with the advent of a new drama, but in the end he himself began to mix together the tragic and the comic.

Under the pressure of a new bourgeois life, Voltaire's political and legal views changed regarding the theater, he opened the doors of drama to all estates. He realized that it is easier for people to inspire their thoughts with the help of heroes from the lower classes. The author brought to the stage a gardener, a soldier, a simple girl whose speeches and problems are closer to society. They made a stronger impression and achieved the goal set by the author. Such bourgeois plays include "Nanin", "Waste", "The Right of the Señor".

The Voltaire Library

After the death of the philosopher, his library became interested in Catherine 2, with whom he corresponded. The Russian Empress entrusted this matter to her agent, who discussed everything with the heirs of Voltaire. This transaction was to include Catherine's personal letters, but they were bought by Beaumarchais. He published them with some amendments and omissions at the request of the empress.

The library itself was delivered by ship in 1779. It included 6814 books and 37 manuscripts. At first it was placed in the Hermitage. During the reign of Nicholas I, access to the library was closed. It is known that AS Pushkin worked with her at the special order of the tsar, when he wrote "History of Peter".

In 1861, Alexander 2 ordered the transfer of all available material to the Imperial Public Library in St. Petersburg.

The books contain many personal notes of Voltaire. They constitute a separate object of study. Voltaire, whose political views, like all life, attract so far many philosophers, writers, political scientists and historians, was a very interesting personality. Interest to his person and creativity continues to exist.